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Epilogue: Learning how to quit on the Appalachian Trail
Right after college, chasing big dreams and even bigger idealism, I taught in a high-need school in rural Mississippi. You may have seen one of the popular movies about similar situations, such as "Dangerous Minds" or "Freedom Writers." One of the big differences between the movies and reality is that the teachers in the movies face their hardest days and biggest push back in the beginning. Things get better as they connect with their students and inspire them to see the ways education can enhance their lives. In reality, students are on their best behavior those first few days and weeks of school and the challenges ramp up and continue throughout most of the school year, with little victories sprinkled throughout crushing failures and really tough days. This was just my experience of course. This is not so different than my experience of the Appalachian Trail. I faced fear and uncertainty those first few days, but the feeling of conquering those fears and checking off new experiences and victories in the backcountry provided the needed motivation to keep going. However, as miles and days and soreness stacked up, the trail experience often consisted of misery, challenge, and monotony, sprinkled with the occasional beautiful view or encouraging connection.
Spoiler Alert: My last miles on the Appalachian Trail
A strange thing happened a little ways into my hike. So much was going right -- the weather was beautiful, the views were making me happy, the compression sleeve seemed to be helping my knee pain. Yet, I suddenly had this overwhelming feeling that I just didn't want to be hiking anymore. It's probably not fair to say that it came out of nowhere, because as I've written about (but maybe not explicitly stated), the idea or question of whether I want to keep going followed me since the Smokies. These thoughts were usually loudest right before I arrived in town where inevitably their volume was turned down little by little as the reasons for my miseries were taken care of one by one. Fed, rested, dry, warm, clean, happy again. I experienced this dance over and over as the longings and deprivations central to the thru hiking experience were replaced by contented ecstasy at the fulfillment of even the most basic needs in town. Typically this dance was enough to propel me on through the next 30-50 miles and several days. Yet here I was, barely out of Hot Springs and for the first time, seriously considering turning around and hiking back to civilization to find a way to end my thru hike attempt of the Appalachian Trail. I was giddy at the thought.
Cruising (then limping) into Hot Springs: A favorite spot, a favorite town
There are a few highlights from the Appalachian Trail section after Great Smoky Mountain National Park. First, Max Patch along the North Carolina/Tennessee border was one of my favorite spots on trail. As soon as I completed the climb up, an awe-struck "wow" escaped my lips and stayed suspended there as I turned to take in the 360 degree views. So, what was the other highlight of this section? Flat. Trail. I'm not kidding. There was a stretch after Max Patch where miles (yes, plural miles) of the trail were gentle and nearly flat. I was still experiencing some on-and-off foot and knee pain, but these flatter stretches provided relief.
The Smokies, Part 2: Lessons from Marines, Beef with Bill Bryson and Budding Injuries
Making crazy-ish travel logistics work is a sort of specialty of mine. Always keen to go somewhere new, see something different, and especially be
Days 24 -28: Battling Mental Absurdities Through the Smokies
When I awoke at the Fontana Dam Shelter, I knew the day's climb into Great Smoky Mountains National Park was going to be tough. My feet were painful
Days 18-23: Earthquake, Downpour and Pizza, of Course, on the Appalachian Trail
The next section of trail brought several places in pretty quick succession that I was excited to reach. The first was the Nantahala Outdoor Center (or NOC) which had a bunkhouse and restaurant (yay!), and then not long after that, we would reach Fontana Dam with the famous Fontana "Hilton" shelter and beautiful water views. But first, there was some excitement to be had on trail, including an earthquake, a downpour, and hiking with a big ol' pizza.
Day 17: The Literal and Figurative Ups and Downs of the Appalachian Trail
Just as in life off trail, it doesn't take long to fall into a routine on trail, and once you do, the days start to blend together. But also like life off trail, there are days on trail that stick with you and stick out, and days like that can be recalled so vividly, they deserve their own blog. Day 17 on the Appalachian Trail was such a day, as I made my way out of Franklin, NC, from Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Bald Shelter. Let me walk you through it.
Days 9-16: Hitting AT Milestones While Cruising Toward Franklin, NC
This section of trail brought some challenges, but also some exciting milestones. At Bly Gap, I said goodbye to Georgia and crossed the border into North Carolina. My first state completed - that felt exciting. My excitement was halted temporarily when North Carolina welcomed me with a very strenuous climb right out of the gate. Later in the section, I climbed to the Albert Mountain Fire Tower, with beautiful views, and another milestone - 100 miles hiked on the Appalachian Trail! It was my longest stretch so far and I cruised into Franklin, NC on fumes and dreams of hot food and a hot shower.
Days 6-8: Whitley Gap Shelter to Unicoi Gap and a Stay in Hiawassee
Days 6-8 saw me making the trek from Whitley Gap Shelter to Unicoi Gap, with the promise of a town stay and zero day. I cruised into Hiawassee with the help of some music and a dream of town food.
Day 5: The Trifecta of A.T. Wildlife Sightings
Day 5 on the Appalachian Trail was the epitome of the thru hiking experience, with highs and lows. I met so many kind and curious people, and it was an epic day for wildlife sightings.
